Helicopter
UH-1D 66-16789

Information on U.S. Army helicopter
UH-1D tail number 66-16789
The Army purchased this helicopter 0867
Total flight hours at this point: 00001148
Date: 04/14/69
Accident case number: 690414311 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: A/1 AVN 1 INF
The station for this helicopter was Phu Loi in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 3
costing 244345
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated:
Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database.
Army Aviation Safety Center database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report)
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC W1 TOLBERT D
P O2 WATSON DR
CE E4 FARLEY DD
G E4 PINAMONTE LL

Passengers:
E8 E RASCHER, PAX, G;
O4 WE AMLONG, PAX, G;
O5 R SEGAL, PAX, D;

Accident Summary:

ON THE EVENING OF 14 APRIL 1969, THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING
FROM DONG XOAI TO LAI KHE. THE ALTITUDE WAS 3500 FEET,
AIRSPEED WAS 80 KNOTS, AND THE FLIGHT PLAN WAS TO FLY DIRECT.
DURING THIS FLIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES SW OF DONG XOAI AND
12 MILES NORTH OF PHOUC VINH THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER AS WELL AS
THE COPILOT NOTICED BOTH SEVER VIBRATIONS AND A LOUD WHINNING
SOUND SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER
NOTICED THE VIBRATIONS IN THE FLOOR WHILE THE PILOT DETECTED THEM
ALSO IN THE CONTROLS. THEY DID NOT DETECT ANY UNUSUAL SHARP
SOUNDS TO EVIDENCE POSITIVE MATERIEL FAILURE.

THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER AT THIS TIME TOOK CONTROL OF THE
AIRCRAFT NOTING THAT ALL INSTRUMENTS WERE READING AT THEIR
NORMAL PRESSURES AND TEMPS, AND THAT TORQUE AND RPM HAD NOT
VARIED. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER DECIDED AT THIS TIME TO TURN
TOWARD HIGHWAY 1A. TURNING WITH A SLIGHT BANK. AS HE STARTED TO
ROLL OUT OF THE TURN THE AIRCRAFT REACHED A PEAK INTENSITY IN
VIBRATION AND NOISE WHICH REMAINED CONSTANT THROUGHOUT THE
REMAINDER OF THE FLIGHT. AT THIS TIME THE AC, UNFAMILIAR WITH ANY
CONDITIONS SUCH AS THESE DEEMED IT NECESSARY TO ENTER AUTOROTATION.

ENTERING A NORMAL AUTOROTATION WITH 70 KNOTS AIRSPEED.
AT APPROXIMATELY 1500 FEET THE COPILOT ASKED IF THE AC HAD
ENTERED AUTOROTATION DUE TO THE NEEDLES BEING JOINED WITH A
STEADY BLEED TO 5800 RPM. THE COPILOT HAD WAITED UNTIL THEN TO
MENTION THIS SINCE THE AC WAS STILL COMPLETING HIS MAYDAY CALLS.
AT THE SME TIME THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED SLOWLY TO THE
RIGHT AND WAS NOT STOPPED BY THE ADDITION OF FULL LEFT PEDAL,
THE VIBRATIONS THEN BECAME A SHUDDER. FAILING TO CORRECT THE
ATTITUDE WITH PEDAL, THE AC NOSED THE AIRCRAFT OVER AND TO THE
LEFT UNTIL IT WAS STRAIGHT. DURING THIS MANEUVER THE PILOT
ROLLED ON THE THROTTLE FEELING NO REACTION. HE COULD NOT
SAY FOR SURE WHETHER HE HAD ROLLED IT ON ALL THE WAY OR NOT.

AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET AND
OVER THE TREES AT THE EDGE OF THE CLEARING. AT THIS TIME THE
AIRCRAFT ONCE AGAIN YAWED TO THE RIGHT (APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES).
THE AC THEN AGAIN ROLLED OFF THE THROTTLE AND STARTED LEADING
THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT. THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE REACTION TO
THE ROLLING OFF OF THE THROTTLE, BUT SECONDS LATER IT DID REACT
AND STRAIGHTEN OUT. AT THIS TIME THE AC FELT THAT THE AUTOROTATION
WAS NORMAL EXCEPT FOR THE RPM WHICH WAS STILL READING 5800.
HE THEN LEVELED THE AIRCRAFT. AT APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET OFF THE
GROUND THE AIRCRAFT YAWED APPROXIMATELY 10-15 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT.

THE AC NOSED IT OVER TO TRY AND MAINTAIN A SOMEWHAT STRAIGHT
FLIGHT PATH. THE AIRCRAFT MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND AT AN
APPROXIMATE AIRSPEED OF 60-70 KNOTS, HITTING LEFT SIDE LOW.
THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED, SKIDDED, AND CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN.
ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE MANEUVER THE INSTRUMENTS AND
GAUGES DID NOT FLUCTUATE OR CHANGE OTHER THAN PLUS OR
MINUS 50 RPM ON THE ENGINE AND ROTOR TACH. THE AIRSPEED
ALSO REMAINED AT 65-70 KNOTS.\\

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter
UH-1D tail number 66-16789
It is provided here as an ESTIMATE of the history of this helicopter
and is not intended to be the final authority.
This helicopter was purchased by the US Army in 0867.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST    COUNTRY
6708   0    0 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT        IN TRANSIT             AVCOMCTR
6709  17   17 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6710  77   94 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6711 105  199 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6712  78  277 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6801   0  277 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6802 151  428 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6803  58  486 3448   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL   4TH ARMY
6804   0  486 3448   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH       AVCOM
6805   0  486 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN  AVCOM
6806   0  486 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN  AVCOM
6807   0  486 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN  AVCOM
6808   0  486 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN  AVCOM
6809  45  531 3204   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                PACIFIC
6810 110  641 3204   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                PACIFIC
6811  78  719 WAHBA0 COA 1STAVBN 1IN  VIETNAM                     RVN
6812  82  801 WAHBA0 COA 1STAVBN 1IN  VIETNAM                     RVN
6901  78  879 WAHBA0 COA 1STAVBN 1IN  VIETNAM                     RVN
6902 128 1007 WAHBA0 COA 1STAVBN 1IN  VIETNAM                     RVN
6903 141 1148 WAHBA0 COA 1STAVBN 1IN  VIETNAM                     RVN